Chapter 17 MJ
The party was in full swing, a sparkling, happy celebration with everyone MJ loved most in the whole world all laughing and talking in the great room and entry hall of Snowberry Lodge.
Through the front windows, she could see heavy snow swirling in the darkness, the kind of storm that turned Park City into a life-sized snow globe.
Outside, the world looked magical and serene.
This celebration was so different from Christmas morning when they’d last gathered as a family. This one marked the end of the holidays, the year, and, for Cindy, the single life.
It would be a new season around here, for sure. Would MJ get to spend as much time with her sister? Would they have to face their finances and consider selling the place? How would Jack play into that?
“You look too serious for a party, Mom.”
MJ turned to meet Gracie’s gaze, always struck by how the mix of brown and gold with that mysterious touch of green perfectly matched her memory of George McBride’s eyes.
“Just pensive,” MJ said.
“About?”
She rooted around for a neutral response. “All I have to do to, well, undo the holidays, honey. Putting it all up is so much more fun than taking it down.”
“I’ll help you,” she said. “Sugarfall has all our New Year’s Day orders ready to roll out, and this week is a lull for the bakery. I’m here for you.”
MJ eyed her only child, sensing she wasn’t quite right tonight. “What about you? You look serious, too.”
Gracie brushed back some reddish gold hair. “I’m fine.”
MJ knew better, but she also knew not to press her daughter at a party. Social situations weren’t her favorite place and Gracie was not likely to open up until they were alone.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” she whispered. “And I’ll take your help on the tree. I think Cindy will be…on a cloud.”
Gracie glanced across the room, but her attention fell on Nicole and Cameron tucked into a corner, looking completely smitten. They were laughing with Benny, who’d let Sir Isaac Newton sit in Elise’s lap, all of them delighted with whatever the spunky young woman was saying.
“Love is certainly in the air tonight,” Gracie noted on a sigh.
“For some,” MJ replied.
Gracie looked sharply at her. “Mom, are you sad that Matt Walker checked out? You were spending a lot of time with him.”
“Sad? Me? Honey, I don’t know the meaning…” Her voice faded. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I’m a little sad. How ridiculous is that?”
“About as ridiculous as me kind of crushing on a guy who turns out not only to be a retired pro football player but about to open the ‘anti-bakery’ across the street from Sugarfall.”
Gracie had filled all of them in on what Marshall Hampton was planning for Park City, but nothing more than that. MJ lifted a curious brow. “A crush? You never mentioned having a crush on him.”
“You never mentioned having a crush on Matt,” she replied with a sly smile.
MJ opened her mouth to deny it, then closed it, silent.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Gracie whispered, glancing at Cindy and Nicole. “This was their year. Maybe ours will be next year, which starts in”—she glanced at her watch—“very few minutes.”
“Oh! I have to be ready!”
“For what? We’ll kiss each other on the cheek.” Gracie leaned closer. “Along with Red and Benny. All the singletons.”
“No, no, I promised Jack…” She had cupcakes with sparklers on top and she wanted to ask Benny to figure out how to play “I Will Always Love You” on Red’s phone after Jack popped the question.
It had been Jack and Cindy’s wedding dance song the first time around.
And, it turned out, the words had been prophetic.
“You’ll be surprised,” she finished, purposely vague.
Gracie gave a wry smile. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be that surprised, Mom. Look at the two of them.”
She did, and sighed, not bothering to try to keep the secret. “I’m happy for her.”
“You know, it’s okay for you to think about love again,” Gracie whispered. “I miss Dad every single day, but I know he wouldn’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life.”
“Hush, child. And even if I did…something like that, it wouldn’t be with a man who could be a criminal or married or God knows what. Matt was hiding something and it was big enough for him to haul out when I pressed.” She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“I get that,” Gracie said.
Well, MJ didn’t really get it. She didn’t understand why Matt was so cryptic or why she felt so empty, lonelier than she had when George died.
And that confused her most of all. She’d loved George with her whole heart, and she’d been blessed to have him for so many wonderful years. That love should have been enough to last a lifetime.
So why did she keep thinking about those words…
I need one year. It’ll take that long to…change my life.
How? Why? What did he need to do in that year?
“What time is it?” she asked Gracie, aching for a new topic.
“Ten minutes until midnight.”
Just then, Jack stepped away from Cindy and navigated the small crowd to reach MJ, a light in his blue eyes.
“I’ll let you two plan surprises that won’t surprise anyone,” Gracie teased, moving away when Benny called her over.
“You ready?” she asked Jack when he came up next to her.
“Nervous, but yeah, ready.”
“Before, during, or after midnight?” MJ asked.
“I think right before. Two minutes. I propose, she says yes—God willing—we cheer, then do a countdown to midnight.”
“Perfect!” MJ said. “While everyone is doing their New Year kissing, I’ll get the sparklers on some cupcakes and cue my musical surprise.”
“Don’t tell me,” Jack teased. “‘I Will Always Love You.’”
MJ just laughed. “Oh, I hate to be so predictable.”
“What you are is thoughtful and spectacular.” Jack gave her an impulsive hug. “I’ve missed having you as my sister these past ten years.”
“Then don’t disappear again.”
His smile faded. “Never, MJ. I give you my word I will not leave that woman ever again.”
They shared another quick hug, then she gave him a nudge. “Get to it, Romeo.”
In the center of the room, Jack tapped his glass with a spoon, and silence fell.
“Excuse me, everyone,” he said, his deep voice carrying easily over the room. Cindy turned to him, surprise and curiosity lighting her features. Jack’s hands trembled slightly as he reached for hers.
“I just wanted to take this time as the year ends,” he began, his voice thick with emotion, “to say how grateful I am to be here tonight. To be home.”
Everyone reacted with claps and “Aww” and “Yes!”
“Life doesn’t always give you second chances.” He lifted Cindy’s fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. “When it does…” He swallowed hard, eyes locked on Cindy’s as he took her other hand. “You grab them with both hands.”
She laughed at the play on words, letting him pull her closer.
“We have exactly five minutes until midnight—”
“Three and a half,” Benny called out, making everyone chuckle.
“Three and a half until a new year begins. A year that I hope will be very different for us, Cindy.” He took a step back and slowly lowered himself to one knee, producing a small box from his pocket.
For a few suspended seconds, no one spoke as Cindy gasped when the realization hit.
Behind them, Nicole put both hands to her mouth and stifled a whimper. “Oh…this is happening.”
“It is,” Jack confirmed, shooting a grin at his daughter before focusing on Cindy. “At least, I hope it is. Cynthia Starling Kessler, you are the love of my life…always have been and always will be.”
“Jack,” she whispered.
He opened the box and everyone reacted to the sparkling rock, which was certainly bigger this time around. “Sweet Cinnie, will you marry me—again?”
Cindy sobbed out a “Yes!” and the room erupted with applause and cheers. Standing, he slid the ring on her finger and they kissed, long and deep.
MJ swiped at tears, as did just about everyone in the room, including her father. Red and Nicole stepped closer to hug the couple, laughing, then Gracie and Benny joined them.
“Mom!” Gracie called, waving her over. “Starling family hug!”
Joining them, she kissed her sister, her brother-in-law-to-be and laughed when Benny pulled back and called out, “Thirty seconds to midnight!”
In the flash of silence that followed the next round of chatter, MJ froze, hearing a loud…pop.
She looked around for the champagne but she hadn’t brought out a fresh bottle. But there it was again. And again.
The fourth noise was no champagne bottle, but a sharp, splintering crack, loud and ominous enough to bring the room to silence, every single expression registering confusion.
Another bang split the air, and suddenly there was a groan so loud and low it felt like the entire lodge was crying out in agony.
“What was that?” Cindy gasped, clutching Jack’s arm.
Before anyone could answer, a thunderous crash shook the entire building. The floor trembled beneath their feet, glasses shattering, screams rising from most everyone.
“Everyone out!” Cameron shouted, diving into safety mode to order people to the front door. “Outside! Outside! Now! In a line!”
With Jack’s assistance, they herded out, with Nicole holding tight to Elise’s wheelchair to get her to the front porch.
“Move! Now!” Cameron grabbed her arm, but MJ was frozen in horror and disbelief.
“What just happened?” she croaked.
“I’ll find out,” he insisted, giving her a hard nudge. “Go out. Go outside.”
She stumbled out into the cold, hands over her face, tears freezing on her lashes as the snow fell.
“Stay here!” Cameron yelled, then disappeared into the house.
The noise had come from the back of the lodge, MJ knew. Her kitchen. And she also had a really strong suspicion about what it was.
“The roof,” Cindy whispered. “The roofer’s coming the day after tomorrow.”
MJ looked at her. “I think it’s going to be too late.”
A moment later, Cameron came back out, crestfallen. “The roof caved in. I think we should call 911 to make sure the whole place is secure but it looks contained to the mudroom, half the kitchen, and the apartment back there.”